Politics may be show business for ugly people, but you don't have to be ugly about it yourself.
It's become a cliche to describe the endless series of Republican presidential debates as a reality show. But lately a lot of politicians have been acting as though they were looking to secure a spot on the "now trending" lists of Internet search engines.
Secretly donating sperm to lesbians in New Zealand? Seriously?
The truth is, if you're a politician, you don't have to engage in any kind of wild or outlandish behavior to become the talk of the Internet and cable news. People are already prepared to think the worst of you, so any minor indiscretion is likely to turn you into a laughingstock.
That's why you have to be careful. There are a lot of land mines and social pitfalls you have to avoid.
To spare politicians further embarrassment, we have prepared this list of do's and, mainly, don'ts. The downsides are simply too great.
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Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford told his staff he was hiking the Appalachian trail, then later confessed he had rendezvoused with his Argentine mistress, whom he called "my soul mate." He stayed in office but his wife, Jenny, filed for divorce.
Bruce Smith
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Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned from Congress in June after tweeting lewd photos of himself.
Jason DeCrow
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During a Dec. 10 debate in Iowa, Mitt Romney (right) bet $10,000 that Texas Gov. Rick Perry was wrong about what Romney had written concerning a national health care mandate.
Kevork Djansezian
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Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges, including trying to sell or trade the Senate seat that became vacant when President Obama went to the White House.
Scott Olson
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New York Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. has pleaded not guilty to charges he allegedly solicited bribes from undercover FBI agents in an effort to pay his legal bills. He was acquitted of earlier corruption charges.
David Karp
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When former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin addressed attendees at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 6, 2010, she appeared to have notes written on her left hand.
Ed Reinke
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Florida State Rep. Bob Allen resigned from office in late 2007 after being convicted of charges he offered to perform oral sex for $20 on an undercover male police officer in the men's room of a park.
George Bortle
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Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer points at President Obama after he arrived at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on Wednesday.
Haraz N. Ghanbari
